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1. Scope* 1.5 The client requesting the test may specify the water
content or range of water contents and the dry unit weight for
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the Cali-
which the CBR is desired.
fornia Bearing Ratio (CBR) of pavement subgrade, subbase,
and base course materials from laboratory compacted speci- 1.6 Unless specified otherwise by the requesting client, or
mens. The test method is primarily intended for, but not limited unless it has been shown to have no effect on test results for the
to, evaluating the strength of materials having maximum material being tested, all specimens shall be soaked prior to
particle size less than 3⁄4 in. (19 mm). penetration.
1.2 When materials having a maximum particle size greater 1.7 For the determination of CBR of field in-place
than 3⁄4 in. (19 mm) are to be tested, this test method provides materials, see Test Method D4429.
for modifying the gradation of the material so that the material 1.8 Units—The values stated in inch-pound units are to be
used for tests all passes the 3⁄4-in. (19-mm) sieve while the total regarded as standard. The SI units given in parentheses are
gravel (3 in. (75 mm) to plus No. 4 (4.75 mm)) fraction mathematical conversions, which are provided for information
remains the same. While traditionally this method of specimen purposes only and are not considered standard. Reporting of
preparation has been used to avoid the error inherent in testing test results in units other than inch-pound units shall not be
materials containing large particles in the CBR test apparatus, regarded as nonconformance with this test method.
the modified material may have significantly different strength 1.8.1 The gravitational system of inch-pound units is used
properties than the original material. However, a large experi- when dealing with inch-pound units. In this system, the pound
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ence database has been developed using this test method for (lbf) represents a unit of force (weight), while the unit for mass
materials for which the gradation has been modified, and is slugs. The slug unit is not given, unless dynamic (F = ma)
satisfactory design methods are in use based on the results of calculations are involved.
tests using this procedure. 1.8.2 The slug unit of mass is almost never used in
1.3 Past practice has shown that CBR results for those commercial practice; that is, density, balances, etc. Therefore,
materials having substantial percentages of particles retained the standard unit for mass in this standard is either kilogram
on the No. 4 (4.75 mm) sieve are more variable than for finer (kg) or gram (g), or both. Also, the equivalent inch-pound unit
materials. Consequently, more trials may be required for these (slug) is not given/presented in parentheses.
materials to establish a reliable CBR. 1.8.3 It is common practice in the engineering/construction
profession, in the United States, to concurrently use pounds to
1.4 This test method provides for the determination of the represent both a unit of mass (lbm) and of force (lbf). This
CBR of a material at optimum water content or a range of implicitly combines two separate systems of units; that is, the
water content from a specified compaction test and a specified absolute system and the gravitational system. It is scientifically
dry unit weight. The dry unit weight is usually given as a undesirable to combine the use of two separate sets of
percentage of maximum dry unit weight determined by Test inchpound units within a single standard. As stated, this
Methods D698 or D1557. standard includes the gravitational system of inch-pound units
and does not use/present the slug unit for mass. However, the
use of balances or scales recording pounds of mass (lbm) or
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and recording density in lbm/ft3 shall not be regarded as noncon-
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.05 on Strength and formance with this standard.
Compressibility of Soils.
1.8.4 The terms density and unit weight are often used
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2014. Published January 2015. Originally
approved in 1961. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as D1883 – 07ϵ2. DOI: interchangeably. Density is mass per unit volume whereas unit
10.1520/D1883-14. weight is force per unit volume. In this standard, density is
6.10 Drying Oven—Thermostatically controlled, preferably 6.11 Sieves—3⁄4 in. (19 mm) and No. 4 (4.75 mm), conform-
of a forced-draft type and capable of maintaining a uniform ing to the requirements of Specification E11.
temperature of 230 6 9°F (110 6 5°C) throughout the drying
chamber.
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compaction test with a sufficient number of test specimens to Use Test Method D2216 to determine the water contents and
establish the optimum water content for the soil using the average the two values for reporting. The two samples should
compaction method specified, either Test Methods D698 or not differ more than 1.5 percentage points to assume reason-
D1557. A previously performed compaction test on the same able uniformity of the compacted specimen’s water content.
material may be substituted for the compaction test just 8.2.2 If the sample is not to be soaked, take a water content
described, provided that if the sample contains material re- sample in accordance with Test Methods D698 or D1557 if the
tained on the 3⁄4-in. (19-mm) sieve, soil prepared as described average water content is desired.
in 7.1 is used. 8.2.3 Clamp the mold (with extension collar attached) to the
NOTE 2—Maximum dry unit weight obtained from a compaction test base plate with the hole for the extraction handle facing down.
performed in a 4.000-in. (101.6-mm) diameter mold may be slightly Insert the spacer disk over the base plate and place a disk of
greater than the maximum dry unit weight obtained from compaction in filter paper on top of the spacer disk. Compact the soil-water
the 6.000-in. (152.4-mm) compaction mold or CBR mold. mixture into the mold in accordance with 8.1, 8.1.1, or 8.1.2.
8.1.1 For cases where the CBR is desired at 100 % maxi- 8.2.4 Remove the extension collar and carefully trim the
mum dry unit weight and optimum water content, compact a compacted soil even with the top of the mold by means of a
specimen using the specified compaction procedure, either Test straightedge. Patch with smaller size material any holes that
Methods D698 or D1557, from soil prepared to within 60.5 may have developed in the surface by the removal of coarse
percentage point of optimum water content determined in material. Remove the perforated base plate and spacer disk,
accordance with Test Method D2216. weigh, and record the mass of the mold plus compacted soil.
8.1.2 Where the CBR is desired at optimum water content Place a disk of filter paper on the perforated base plate, invert
and some percentage of maximum dry unit weight, compact the mold and compacted soil, and clamp the perforated base
three specimens from soil prepared to within 60.5 percentage plate to the mold with compacted soil in contact with the filter
point of optimum water content and using the specified paper.
compaction but using a different number of blows per layer for 8.2.5 Place the surcharge weights on the perforated plate
each specimen. The number of blows per layer shall be varied and adjustable stem assembly and carefully lower onto the
as necessary to prepare specimens having unit weights above compacted soil specimen in the mold. Apply a surcharge equal
If the test specimen was not soaked, take the water content
sample in accordance with Test Methods D698 or D1557.
10. Calculation
10.1 Load-Penetration Curve—Calculate the penetration
stress in pounds per square inch (psi) or megapascals (MPa)
and plot the stress versus penetration curve. In some instances,
the stress-penetration curve may be concave upward initially,
because of surface irregularities or other causes, and in such
cases the zero point shall be adjusted as shown in Figs. 2 and
3.
NOTE 7—Figs. 2 and 3 should be used as an example of correction of
load-penetration curves only. It is not meant to imply that stress on piston
at the 0.2-in. penetration is always greater than the applied stress at the
0.1-in. penetration.
10.2 Bearing Ratio—Using corrected stress values taken
from the stress penetration curve for 0.100 in. (2.54 mm) and
0.200 in. (5.08 mm) penetrations, calculate the bearing ratios
for each by dividing the corrected stresses by the standard
stresses of 1000 psi (6.9 MPa) and 1500 psi (10 MPa)
NOTE 1—See Table 2 for SI equivalents. respectively, and multiplying by 100. Also, calculate the
FIG. 2 Correction of Load-Penetration Curves bearing ratios for the maximum stress, if the penetration is less
When adjusting a concave upward shaped curve, project a straight line through the straight line portion of the stress-penetration curve downward until it intersects the
penetration axis. Measure the distance (X) from the origin to the intersection. This distance (X) is then added to 0.1 and 0.2 of the penetrations and this creates a new
0.1 and 0.2 penetration. Project a straight line upward from these new penetration points until it intersects the stress-penetration curve and then select the appropriate
stress values that correspond with new 0.1 and 0.2 penetrations.
FIG. 3 Method for Adjusting Concave Upward Shaped Curve
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12.2 Bias—There is no accepted reference value for this test
11.2.6 Date(s) of testing. method, therefore, bias cannot be determined.
11.3 Record as a minimum the following test specimen data:
11.3.1 Method used for preparation and compaction of 13. Keywords
specimen: Test Methods D698 or D1557, or other, with 13.1 California Bearing Ratio; CBR; pavement subgrade;
description. subbase; strength; pavement design
APPENDIX
(Nonmandatory Information)
X1.
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SUMMARY OF CHANGES
Committee D18 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue
(D1883 – 07ϵ2) that may impact the use of this standard. (Approved December 1, 2014)
(1) Revised Section 1 to address units of measurement. (5) Revised sentences for clarity.
(2) Revised 3.1.1. (6) Added some clairification to 9.4 and 10.1.
(3) Revised Table 2 to remove conversions not needed. (7) Changes were made throughout to bring standard up to
(4) Revised several typos and significant digits. current Committee D18 wording and formatting.
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